Parishes, not counties, are the political jurisdictions for recording marriage and court records in Louisiana as well as land (termed conveyances), and probate (termed successions). Parish clerks hold the majority of these records, while some cities have these functions divided among register of conveyances and district court clerks. The Genealogical Society of Utah has filmed court, property, notarial, probate, tax, and vital records for many Louisiana parishes, which are available through the FHL. The Louisiana Section of the State Library of Louisiana has some of the information on parish formation.

As of July 1999, birth certificates are available through the State Office of Vital Records and Parish Clerks of Court. Contact information for the Parish Clerks of Court is available at [www.sos.Louisiana.gov/admin/admin-births.htm www.sos.Louisiana.gov/admin/admin-births.htm]. Land, probate, court, and other vital records may also be found at different addresses than those shown in the following table (see Louisiana Archives, Libraries, and Societies).